Spacing tool for helical springs



Feb. 9, 1932. c BATZ 1,844,309

SPACING TOOL FOR iIELICAL SPRINGS Filed April 50, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A /E {SUPPLY a INVIENTOR.

GEORGE c. 54 7'2 A TTORNEY.

Feb. 9, 1932. G. c. BATZ 1,844,309

SPACING TOOL FOR HELICAL SPRINGS Filed April 30. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE C 514 TZ ATTORNEY.

in Fig. 1

kindcommonly used as equalizer springs on Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED ESTATE GEORGE C. BATZ,OF TOPEKA, KANSAS SPACING fOOL'FOIEt HELIGAL SPRINGS Application filed April 30,

My'invention relates to a spacing'tool for helical springs. The object of my invention is to provide a spacing toolfor helical springs comprising a rotatable bit arranged for insertion between the coils of ahelical spring and certain driving means to rotate the spring during the rotation of the said bit. 7

Another object of my invention'is to provide a machine tool of the kind described arranged toproperly space the coils of a helicalspring in one operation by the insertion of a rotatable bit between the coils of the spring and at the same time to rotate the spring against the bit.

These and other objectswill hereinafter be more fully explained. 7

Referring to the drawings in which like characters apply to like parts in the different views:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the spacing tool with a helicalspring inposition for spacing.

Fig. '2 is a sectional'view of the tooltaken on line' 2'2 in Fig. 1. In this view the heli cal spring is removed and the mandrel is displaced 'frornthe operating position.

Fig. 3 is a section'view taken on line 33 1 is anend view of the tool.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a typical bitn "Fig.1; is aside view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation of one of Fig.

the springbearings supportingthe' roller.

Fig. 8 isa plan view of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9is an'end view of Fig. 7.

FigJ-TO illustrates the manner by which-the coils of a helical spring having a comparatively small diameter are spaced.

fFig.'11 is an end View of Fig. 10.

A helical spring 1, in this instance, "of the railway coach andfreight trucks, is heated and placed ona stationary mandrel 2. This mandrel is pivotally carried at one end of u the frame 2 as shown at A, and arranged to beswung outward as shown at B in Fig. 2.

At the other end of the mandrel a portion is removed to permit the engagement of the member 1, which is slidably mounted on the frame 1 3 at G and positioned relative to the doesnot affect its rotation.

1931. Serial No. 533,971.

member 5, the latter'rigidly connected to the frame 8, by means of the screw 6.

When the member 41 engages the mandrel2 asindicated at ,D,'thesmandrel is rigidly positioned on'the frame 3 and directly underathe axis'of a chuck 7.

The chuck7 holds a bit 8 and isrotatedby a shaft9. The shaft 9 is carried vertically V by 'thebearing IOontheframeB- and is suspended from the frame 3-by the springs 12.560 The shaft 13 of the air motor 14 hasa square portion at E which engages the shaft 9.

The shaft 9 'is slidable vertically to the shaft 13 on thesquare portion. ofthe latter. The lever 9 engages the shaft 9 at F and fixes the relative vertical position oftheshaft but Means to hold the leverin a fixed vertical position is provided in the slot atG in Fig. 4."

Figs. 1 and l'thet'bit 8' is inserted between the coils of the spring 1 and rotated as desired by the motor 14. The rotationof the bit spaces-the coils and the width of'the'bit determines the coil spac- P The flat form of the bit allowsits insertion between the coils to commence the operationand the "rotation of the bit spreads the coils into the desiredspacing as the helical spring-is rotated on themandrel 2.

To remove the spring 1, the lever 9 is releasedin theslot at A,thereby allowing the springs 12 to retract and raise the chuck 7,

the member4 is disengaged from the mandrel and the mandrel is swnngtoutward as shown T in Fig. 2.

A roller 15 having shafts16 and17 is supported by the bearings 16' and 17. These bearings each have alower portion at H, that pass vertically through the frame 3fandiare affixed to ahorizontal bar member 18 at J. The bar 18 extends through the frame 3 as shown at 1 and carries an air motor 20at its left extremity,'with reference to'Figs. land 2. The shaft 21 of the air motor isco-axial with and rigidly connected to the shaft 16 of the roller.

Spring bearings 22 and 23 trunnion the shafts 16 and 17 respectively. These bearings are indentical and the enlarged. details/of i which are shown in Figs. 7 8 and 9. The bearingblock 2 1, is vertically slidable in the guide members 25. The guide members are rigidly connected to the frame 3. Spring members 26 provide the supporting means on the frame for the bearing blocks 24. The shafts 16 and 17 on the roller 15 and the entire assembly of bar 18 and motor 20 are carried by. these blocks. This assembly has no other connection with the frame 3 than that furnished by the slidable engagement of the bearing blocks 24 with the guides 25 and the upward thrust of the springs 26. i r

The force of the springs 26 hold the roller 15 in contact with thespring 1 and the rotation of the roller'by the motor 20 provides the necessary rotation of the spring 1 around the mandrel 2.- 1

In order to relieve the pressure of the roller 15 against the spring 1, for the purpose of removing the spring, I have provided an air cylinder 27, built integral with the frame, having a piston 28 and a rod 29, the latter connected to the bar 18 at K. When air pressure is admitted to the cylinder through the air line 30, the piston 28 is forced downward and the roller assembly is drawn downward. The springs 26 are compressed and theroller is spaced from the spring 1. 7

To operate this tool to properly space the coils of a helical spring:

The air cylinder 27'is charged and roller assembly is pulled downward against the springs 26. The member 4 is disengaged from the mandrel 2 and displaced as shown in Fig.

2. The lever 9 is released in the slot at G to permit the springs 12 to lift the chuck 7 into a higher vertical position. V

A heated helical spring 1 is placed on the mandrel 2 and the latter is returned to the position indicatedin Fig. 1 and secured by the member 4:.

The spring 1 is moved horizontally on the mandrel 2 so that the space between the last two coils at one end is directly under the bit 8. The lever 9 is forced downward to engagement in the slot at G and the bit 8 enters the space between the coils of the spring 1 as in Fig. 1. The air pressure is the cylinder 27 is released which allows the springs'26 to force the roller 15 against the helical spring 1. Air pressure is admitted to both motors 14- and 20. The former rotating the bit 8 and the latter the roller 15. v I V. r

" The rotation of the b't 8 spreads the coils of the spring 1 as it is rotated by the roller 15, which rotation is continued until the entire spiral of the spring 1 has passed by the position of the bit 8. I is 1 This tool provides a simple'and accurate method of coil spacing for helical springs. The spring may be driven past the bit 8 in one direction and thenback again by reversing the motor 20. 1

A modification of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11.

This modification is used for helical springs of a comparatively small diameter.

, A block 31, has a bore 32 extending throughout. A smaller bore enters the bore 32 at right angles from the upper surface of the block. A helical spring 1 is positioned in the bore 32 so that the space between the last two coils at one end is directly under the bore 33. V

. A bit 8 in a chuck 7, the latter rotated in a manner similar to the chuck 7, is lowered into thebore 33 to spread the coils of the spring 1; The spring 1 is rotated by hand until its entire spiral has traversed the point of'the bit 8.

The action of the bit 8 is the same as that described for the bit 8 and the bore 32 prevents distortion of the coils.

Such modification may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claims'and what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tool of the kind 7 described, the combination of a bit rotatable at 90 degrees to a stationary mandrehthe bit inserted to spread the coils of a helical spring carried by the said mandrel, a roller as driving means to rotate, the spring.

2. In a tool of the kind described a bit and a mandrel, the bit mounted vertically above the mandrel and rotated by a chuck, the-mandrel rigidly positioned and functioning as holding means for a helical spring, means to insert the bit between the coils of the spring and means to rotate the spring on the mandrel for the progression of the spring by the position of the bit.

3. In a tool of the kind described, as means to rotate a helical springon a mandrel a roller assembly comprising a roller, driving means for the roller and a bar member as carrying means for the roller and its driving means,

certain spring membersas means to thrust' the roller against the hehcal spring and an air cylinder to compress the springs and re lease the roller.

4. In a tool of the kind described, a mandrel, means to rotate a helical spring on the mandrel in association with a rotatable bit, a roller assembly, said roller assembly trunnioned on a bar, by means of rigid bearings, and also trunnioned in spring bearings, the

last said bearing supported on a frame by the place of the mandrel, certain motive power to turn the roller and certain means to space the roller from the mandrel.

6. In a tool of the kind described, an adjustable roller assembly, a mandrel, a chuck carrying a bit and a frame, the roller assembly adjustably spaced to the mandrel on the frame and the bit adjustably positioned to the mandrel, the mandrel functioning as an axis of rotation for a helical spring, means consisting of certain motive power on the roller assembly to rotate the spring and certain driving means to rotate the chuck, to space the coils of the helical spring.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE G. BATZ. 

